OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
MARY FALLIN

Governor Mary Fallin Statement on End of Nine-Day Public School Teacher Walkout

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin this evening issued the following statement on the
announced end of the nine-day public school teacher walkout:

“Oklahomans
and our elected officials have proven they are committed to school children,
teachers and educators. We appreciate our professional teachers. I’m glad
teachers who participated in the union strike will return to teaching their
students. They’ve been out for two
weeks, and it’s time for them to get back to school. Student learning at
schools affected by the strike has been halted for nearly two weeks at a critical
time in the academic year when federal and state testing requirements need to
be completed.

“Three weeks ago, before the
walkout, I gave final approval to an historic raise for teachers, which allows
for a $6,100, or 16 percent, pay raise on average. Now, Oklahoma’s teacher pay moves
up from the lowest, in average teacher pay, to second in the seven-state region
and up to 29th from 49th nationally. Oklahoma’s teacher-pay ranking improves to
12th in the nation when adjusted for cost of living. And last week I signed a bill
- approved by legislators before the walkout - which allocates $2.9 billion for
common education for the upcoming 2019 fiscal year, which is the largest amount
ever appropriated in Oklahoma for K-12 public education and a 19.7 percent
increase over this fiscal year’s appropriation for public schools.

“I am very proud that Republican
lawmakers have led the way on increasing educational expenditures for Oklahoma’s
students this session. In addition, they have protected Oklahomans, especially
small businesses and farmers, from an irresponsible capital gains tax. The Legislature
still has important work to do for the people of Oklahoma before they adjourn,
including criminal justice reform and meeting the financial needs of other core
services such as public safety, health and human services. I appreciate their
ongoing efforts to address all of the priorities in the state.

“I want to thank the more than 100
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers who worked long hours at the state Capitol to
keep teachers, visitors and state employees safe. The state employees who work
at the Capitol deserve our state’s gratitude for their service, too.”